My Favorites in 2014

My blog was started in 2012, and since established, I haven’t do any real “Best Product of the Year” kind of post. Sorry for being late, but here it is :

Tania’s favorite Beauty Product in 2014!

Looking back, in 2014 my skin has up and down journey. Been sorrow and joy, these are my favorites :

SKINCARE

Holy Grail : Paula Choice Clear Anti Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2% Salicylic Acid

My absolute favorites. DOES clean my skin and makes it way much much much better. Now I am just using it like 2-3 times a week to maintain the clearness. The only cons is just price. But well, I’d go for it.

Second, also from Paula Choice : Clear Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Hey, I’ve just said my skin is much much much much better, then why do I need another treatment? Because I still get acne during my period. Amount vary from 1 silent acne to 4 horrible acne. This product helps. Cons? Price and sometimes it’s sting.

Third is Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream.

Mine is in sample size (and I keep buying sample size because regular size cost a Fortune, no joke).

I have oily skin and mostly, cream moisturizer wouldn’t work. This one works, and could be function as moisturizer, night cream, eye cream (no cream bleeding) and has anti oxidant that help with spot.

Fourth, Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Foaming Face Wash (also the one in tube. I run out of it so no picture)

Thanks God I’ve found this. It’s considerably expensive compared to another drugstore brand here, but only fraction compared to Korean Facial Wash. Plus, it’s free from Parabens, SLS/SLES and Phthalates. It’s helps prevent acne and cleanse well. This one is my second foaming bottle and I’ve just finished my second tube.

Fifth, Evian Natural Mineral Water

I know it's said to be far less amazing than Avene Facian Mist, but it's far more affordable here in Indonesia and i think for me, it's done the job very well.

Last, also from Paula Choice is Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

It has Retinol and help to fade my acne scars. 2% salicylic acid does the job quite well but it works faster with SBSACS (gosh, what a long name!).

MAKE UP

 

Since I’m not wearing make up much, I only got 2 super-favorites :

Urban Decay Naked 3

No introduction needed, I guess?

Well, first I don’t think I could pull the Rose Gold theme but thankfully, it turn so good. I rarely wear my naked 2 now. Naked 3 ROCKS!

Coty Airspun Translucent Extra Coverage Loose Powder

Maybe it’s too fast to say it’s favorites in 2014, since I just bought it about end of November but I found nothing work as great as this one, even the ingredient is out of my usual picks, but still. I’m in love.

BODY CARE

The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Body Polish

I’ve praised it so high in my review post (click here to read) and this one is my second tube of vanilla. Faves.

Nivea Daily Protection Sun Lotion Light Feeling SPF 25 PA ++

Remember how I always complained why there’s no good sun lotion? They’re always feel heavy on my skin. Those that lights, has no SPF. No wonder my skintone getting darker and darker.

However, thanks Nivea to bring this cute blue tube to Indonesia. It’s really feels like on my skin. And SPF 25 is enough too. Bought 5 bottles when it launching sale for IDR. 15,000/100ml each. CHEAP.

Have you tried any of these? Does them impressed you?

Check my instagram @Primafacie_Corner (selling beauty stuff, ready stock) and @taniaasvs for beauty reviews :)

 

Coty Airspun Face Powder, Translucent Extra Coverage

Happy New Yeaar..

Well I’m gonna start my 2015 with a review of something I love. You know, having oily, sensitive and acne prone skin makes me tend to be picky with products. Thankfully my skin is getting better and from November 2014 I decided to use less product in my daily base. First thing that I cut-off is foundation. Not that I stop it at all, I do still have a tons of foundation, bb cream, tinted moisturizer (you name it) I need to finish. I just only use them when I think it’s un-appropriate for not using one. Back to the goal, if I’m reducing foundation, then what I’d need? Better loose powder of course.

First, I bought small amount sample of Nars Loose Powder (perhaps I’ll make individual post for it, perhaps not. Lets see). I think I like the medium coverage and lasting power but definitely not the price. USD is soo high nowadays and I don’t think I’d happy to use highly priced loose powder on daily basis even it’s in huge size. I hunted down for cheaper product, with as good quality. I found Coty.

In my narrow mind, I think Coty in USA is more or less like Marcks in Indonesia. Coty Airspun Face Powder, Translucent Extra Coverage is available in USA drugstore for about US $6.49 for 65g. HUGE. While in Indonesia, Marcks is about IDR 11,000 for 40g. Practically, Marcks is about US $ 1 for 40g. Much cheaper, and it’s main ingredient is Corn Starch, makes it better for acne prone skin. But in the other hand, it makes Marcks has far lesser lasting power. On Vintage side, Coty is formulated since 1935 while Marcks is old too (dunno the exact year, sorry).

Then why do I still choose Coty? No offense to Marcks, but I want something last long and match my skintone better.

 

coty airspun face powder, translucent extra coverage

 The packaging isn’t so much special. As I said, it’s big (about 3 inch wide and 1 ¼ inch thick) and hold 65g of product. Inside, there’s plastic separator and loose powder holes and a useless cotton “sponge”.

I pick “Translucent Extra Coverage” one, simply because it’s translucent (no shade confusion) and has extra coverage. In fact, Coty has better coverage than Nars Eden (shade I picked). Wonderful, right? 

Ingredients :

Talc, zinc stearate, magnesium carbonate, fragrance, mineral oil, lanolin, cetyl alcohol, imidazolidinyl, urea, methylparaben, propylparaben [may contain zinc oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxides, D&C red no 30 aluminium lake, FD&C yellow no.5 aluminium lake]

The ingredient is a little bit against my usual pick, though. Well.. I was trying to pick anything else, even from higher brand and found they’re more or less has cons in my mind. So yeah, I still pick Coty. Thankfully, it’s doing well. If it doesn’t though, it’s cheap enough to throw out.

 

I think it's a useless sponge. It's too fluffy, too light to pick up anything.

It's main job is to keep powder falling to closure everytime i bring them out (which is rarely).

 

 Here you can see how it's doing. Only a few amount of powder staying.

Coty's packaging compared to Real Technique's buffing brush

another comparison of Coty's packaging and Real Techniques Buffing brush

swatch on my inner arm

swatch on my inner arm, another lightning

 

When product opened, you’ll spot on it’s fragrance. No wonder, fragrance is 4^th in ingredient list. The scent last until about 5 minutes after application. Strong, yes, you might won’t to put your face near anyone in the waiting time. I kinda like the scent, though.

As many said, you can’t ask about oil control properties to those with dry skin. But I have normal-oily skin which sometimes going to be very oily so I can help you here. Oil control is great. It doesn’t makes you look deadly matte though. Just some pretty girl with not oily skin. Nice!

Combining these kind : long lasting, good coverage and great oil control makes this product a staple in my daily life. I do depot some little amount to smaller container for easier use. Don’t forget to bring a retractable brush for touch up purpose in your make up bag.

PRO’s :

Cheap

Great coverage

Lovely oil control

Lasting power is great

Translucent, no shade confusion

Long last (65 g of product, hellow?)

CONs :

Not easy to find in Indonesia

Strong fragrance

Useless “sponge”

Bulky packaging

So, do you think you need Coty in your life? If yes, I can help you here. Check my instagram @Primafacie_Corner to buy any beauty product you want, ready stock ^____^

.. And if you want to follow my blog’s instagram : @taniaasvs. I currently love doing manicure so you can see some swatch here and there.

Thanks for reading, hopefully you find something helpful here :)